Strap hook



Sapt. 6,

A. EKLUND STRAP HOOK Filed Sept. 10, 1926 1 L9 /j j INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

- UNITED STATES I 1,641,255 PATENT orrics.

A EXAND R EKLUND, or ATTLEBORO, messaonnsnrrs; ASSIGNOR CEO CHAINooMreANY, or PROVIDENCE, ianonn IsLAn'n, A cenroaarioii csiiisssaonnsn'r rs. a j

STRAP HOOK.

Application filed September 10, 1926. Serial No. 134,680.

This invention relates to a device for connecting the end of a flexible;strap to a bar or bail inember, more particularly "of the type forattaching the end of a flexible I bracelet strap to the bail of a wristwatch;

and the object of this invention is to provide a simple and practicalconstruction of such adevice having a hook which may be re leasablyconnected to a bail member and to which the end of a flexible strap maybe releasably attached by a clamp or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connector ofthis type having a smooth under surface for engagement with the personof the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamping memberfor the end of a flexible strap which when in closed or grippingpositionalso serves to completely close the opening to the hook to prevent themember engaged by the hook from moving from engagement with the same andfrom exerting an opening action on the closure member.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features I of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a wrist watch illustrating the improvedconnector as attaching the ends of a flexible bracelet strap to a wristwatch.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the under side of the-body memberofthe connector;

Figure 3 is aperspective View of the gripper or clamp which is pivotedtherein.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of thebody oi the connector with the clampremoved or swung to open position. v

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view oft-he complete device showing in dottedlines a'bail member engaged by the hook,

. Figure 6 is a sectional side view showingate its full open or closedposition.

It is found in practice desirable to proventing vide-a1 hook for the endof a flexible strap and the like to which the strap may be releasablysecuredby a gripper or clamp, and

it;is also found desirable to form the clamp so that itwillalsocompletely close the hook of'thej body of the connector to preventaccidental disengagement of the hook from the member to which it isconnected and also to provide asmocth surface on the under sideot thehook for contact with the arm of the wearer when used 1 01 a wrist watchbracelet and it is further found desirable to provide teeth on thegripper which will so extend into the flexible member that the flexiblemember will not be completely disengaged trom the gripper when thelatter is. swung'to its open positionthereby preinadvertent oraccidental disengagement of the strap and a. consequent dropping of thewrist watch or other member to which the same may be attached; and thefollowing is a detailed descriptionof one means by which theseadvantageous results may be accomplished With reference to the drawings,10 de signates a wrist watch having bail memhers-11 with a flexiblestrap 12 connected thereto by means of a connector or end hook 13. Thisconnector comprises a body memher having a base plate 14F. with anextendedhook-shaped portion 15 with side walls 16 turned inwardly as atl? to lie spaced from and substantially parallel wita the platel l andprovided with a stop finger 18 to limit the insertion of the strap 12into thebody. I

Between the side walls 16 and in the openings 19 is a clamp member 20which is substantially L-shape in cross section. Teeth 21' are providedalong one edge of the clamp and the portion carrying the teeth isextended laterally to form trunnions 22 which extend into the openings19 to pivotally mount *the clamp in the body.

It will be seen that the stop finger 18 is positioned at a point remotefrom the pivotal mounting 19 of the clamp so that the strap will extendinto the body a substantial extent to permit of a firm engagement of theclamp with the strap at a point removed from the end thereof.

Arms 23 carried by the free end of the clamp form a stop to limit theclosingmovement of the clamp and also form an extending of the sidewalls 16 to completely close the hook opening, as is illustrated in it:I)

Figure ti and so prevent a movement of the bail 1i trom beneath theheel: and thus the bail cannot move it) a position beneath the clamp Ltlto cause accidental opening movement oi? the clamp relative to the bodyin which it is pivoted.

it notch Bl is provided in the edge of the heel; i i to permit thelinger nail to be insorted beneath the sheetmetal edge of the ch mp toroving the clamp to its open position, as illustrated in Figure l. Theclamp is limited in its opening movement by steps :23 which permit theclamp to swing only through an are of substantially 90 to a position atsubtantially right angles to the body oat the hooli. as illustrated inFigure '7. in this open position in liigure T, autlieient apace it:pmvidtal to permit of free insertion of the iarap 1:! into the body torgripping the same by a awinging of the clamp to the closed position asilluatrated in Figure (3. The teeth iii. of the clamp are bent inwardlytoward the hook slightly to better resist the tension on the strap inthe direction of the arrow in l igure (3, and alao the points of theteeth so penetrate into the strap as to remain in the strap slightlyeven when the clamp is swung to its open position thereby preventing acomplete disengagement of the strap and the. teeth.

In order to completely disengage the teeth oi. the clamp l'rom thestrap, it is only necessary to throw the lever back to its wide openpoaition and then move the stra ii endways inwardly, which action servesto withdraw the teeth from engagement with the surface ot the strap andpermits its tree removal troin the clamp.

it will be noted that the clamp so ar ranged that any strain in thedirection of the arrow. in liigure ti, tends to move the clamp to closedposition rather than to open the same and that the clamp is soconstructetil that the surface ot? the end of the hook of the body andthe clamp when closed, substantially llush to be smooth to the arm ofthe wearer ot a wrist: watch and prevents al'nading o t the lies llnsome instances, the edges 26 ot' the arms 2 may l'rictionalh engage thetorward edge oi the [hinges 17 and lingers 18, if desired, whereby theclamp member E20 will be caused to snap into place when closed and soretain it against accidental opening.

it will be apparei'it that this hook has uses other than for a wristwatch strap and may be used for any purpose for which it is adaptedsuchas for a body belt garter or the like.

The foregoing descri11 tion is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated, but; I desire it to be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the deviceis susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by theterms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector for the end of a. flexible strap, con'iprising a bodymember having a lu'ioleahaped portion, a strap clamp pivoted in saidbody to swing to open position to permit entry of the strap beneath it,and a stop carried by said body positioned at a point remote from thepivotal mounting of the clamp to engage the end of the strap and limitits insertion beneath said clamp.

.2. It connector for the end of a flexible strap, comprising a bodymember having a hook-shaped portion, a strap clamp pivoted in said bodyand having a portion for completely closing the entering opening to saidhook-shaped portion when said clamp is in stra gripping position, andside arms carried by said clamp for limiting its closing movementthereof, said side arms being positioned to lie (lush with the sides ofsaid body and preventthe member engaged by the hook from moving frombeneath the hook.

ii. A connector for the end oi a flexible strap, comprising a bodymember having a hooleshaped portion with an arc-shaped not h in its edgeand a atrap clamp pivoted in said body and having its end lying flushwith the end of the hook-shaped portion.

at. A connector for the end (it a flexible strap comprising a bodymember having a base plate, side walls 't'ormed on the base plate,portions turned inwardly from the side walls lying parallel to andspaced from the base plate, a hook carried by the body, a strap clamppivoted in the side walls of said body to swing into and out otengagement with the strap, and a stop carried by said body clamp toengage the inturned portion of said side walls to limit the openingmovement of the clamp.

In testimony whereof I atlix my sigi'iatnre.

ALEXANDER EKLUND.

